Do you know what makes me feel good? A nice easy mortgage with a person or persons who have excellent credit, excellent jobs with a long history of employment with excellent income, no debt, simple first mortgage with a nice big juicy downpayment on a resale home purchase. It’s a slam dunk, super easy to process and I get paid by the lender with a finder’s fee. Quick and easy.

You know what makes me feel even better?

NOT GETTING PAID.

I know it’s hard to believe, right? Yes; I need to feed my family and I should be entitled to be paid for my time and service like anyone else. But when a client comes in destitute, who has been taken advantage of by one or more other so called “professionals” in the industry, doesn’t know where to turn or who to trust and the fees and penalties just keep piling up, nothing pleases me more than to fix their situation FOR FREE. The last thing they need is another hand out looking for money – they need a hand up. I know it may sound cliche, but it’s true that when you give, you receive it back 10x. I can always make money on the next deal.

Do you know that mortgage professionals are bound by law to disclose all of their costs to the client in advance? I had a client in recently who met with a shark mortgage broker who had them sign first and then fill in the costs AFTER!! This was like writing a blank cheque. Luckily with my help, the help of a real estate agent that I trust and with the help of a lawyer that I trust implicitly, we were able to fight and mitigate the damage. I treat my clients like I would treat my own family. I advise them and refer them to the people that I use personally.

So please please please, as much as I like to help, it is always better to avoid these destitute situations in the first place. Make sure you trust your mortgage planner. Make sure you READ what you’re signing. Ask questions. Be informed.

Robert Floris is a mortgage planner in Hamilton Ontario with an office on the East Mountain at 651 Fennell East. Contact Robert for a second opinion on your mortgage. There is no obligation. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain because his philosophy is to educate, not pressure. 905-574-9200 Ext. 215.